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Pollutant gases of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors

In order to reduce the atmospheric pollution caused by agricultural or forestry tractor engines, the European Union (EU) is laying down standards for acceptable emissions that apply to those engines.

ACT

Directive 2000/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2000 on action to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants by engines intended to power agricultural or forestry tractors and amending Council Directive 74/150/EEC [See amending acts].

SUMMARY

This Directive details the action to be taken against air pollution by agricultural or forestry tractors. It therefore aims to reduce the level of pollutants emitted * while ensuring the smooth functioning of the internal market.

Vehicles involved

This Directive deals with the requirements concerning emissions by agricultural and forestry tractors *. They concern, in particular, the definition of the component type-approval procedures applying to engines intended to be fitted to tractors and thus also the definition of the type-approval procedures for such vehicles in terms of their pollutant emissions.

Obligations to be complied with

The manufacturer of the vehicle shall submit an application for type-approval concerning the pollutants emitted. They must provide certain information relating to the vehicle, such as the type of motor.

The manufacturer shall also comply with certain specifications concerning tests, engine marking and the conformity of production.

Replacement motors shall comply with the limit values which were applicable to the motor to be replaced at the time when the later was placed on the market.

Flexibility mechanism

A limited number of tractors may be placed in service on the condition that they are equipped with a motor approved in accordance with the requirements relating to the emissions limits of the phase immediately prior to that which is applicable.

The number of these tractors placed on the market under the framework of the flexibility mechanism shall not exceed 40 % of the annual number of tractors placed on the market by the manufacturer.

Limit values

The Directive has the same test requirements as have been adopted for off-road mobile machinery and the corresponding limit values for levels of emissions.

At the same time, the Directive comes within the field of the type-approval procedure for agricultural or forestry tractors put in place by Directive 2003/37/EC.

As it draws a distinction between four chemical pollutants - carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulates (PT) - the Directive supplements Directive 77/537/EEC on action to be taken against pollutants emitted by diesel engines intended to power tractors.

Agricultural or forestry tractor: any motorised, wheeled or tracked agricultural or forestry tractor having at least two axles and a maximum design speed of not less than 6 km/h, the main function of which lies in its tractive power and which has been especially designed to pull, push, carry and actuate certain interchangeable equipment designed to perform agricultural or forestry work, or to tow agricultural or forestry trailers.